No More International Break Until 2018. Yay or Nay?

After enduring a couple of days without club football, Europe’s top five and other leagues are now set to take center stage in the world of football, at least till the year 2017 ends.

This is because the international football season for the year has officially ended. And what a year it was on the international scene. How about a recap?

Of course there were quite a number of games that were played between countries over the past 10 months. Some of them were exciting while some had to be endured.

In February, Cameroon defied all odds and went on to win another AFCON in Gabon. From then on, it was majorly about qualification for the next FIFA World Cup in Russia. From Europe to Asia and the rest of the world, the race continued until it climaxed this month.

Now that all 32 teams that will be competing in Russia next year have been confirmed, it’s all about club football from now on. Good or bad?

For fans of international football – if there are any, the coming days will be as boring as can be. No Neymar to dazzle in a Brazilian jersey and no Nigeria to produce a shock win over the Argentines. For them, they’ve had enough of club football and would like to see national teams go head to head.

Of course fans of club football will disagree with this. Matter-of-factly, they will be happy that international football is taking a backseat for the time being. For them, nothing can be compared with the kind of action that club football offers.

From Champions League action to the almighty Premier League and other leagues, club football is second to no other kind of competition in the world. That’s what a fan of club football will tell you.

If asked, most of the football players will tell you that they’re happy they don’t have to rack up several miles and endure jet lags until the year ends.

For the managers and coaches of clubs, it is one of the best periods on their calendar. Whenever these players leave for international duty, the player’s fate – his health too – is completely out of their hands. They cannot dictate the training regimes or any other thing.

So, most of them complain because the players are usually gone for at least a couple of days; a period which can sometimes make all difference in a club’s season.

But with international football on hold till 2018, managers – especially those in the Premier League – will be more than happy to have all hands on deck as they fight for glory on both the local (league title) and the international (Continental Championship) titles.

But what do you think? What does the international break mean to you? Would you have loved to see more international games before the year runs out or are you just as happy that the2017 season of international football has come and gone?